5 Best Spots to See Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

Tucked away between massive skyscrapers are some of the best places for cherry blossoms in Tokyo.

Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

Tokyo offers a lot of choices for cherry blossom viewing, or Hanami in Japanese. With all of these options, choosing the best spot can feel a bit overwhelming.

To help you out, we’ve created a list of our favorite places for cherry blossoms in Tokyo. Hopefully, this will help you find your ideal spot so you can enjoy the full bloom of spring in Tokyo!

Hanami at Ueno Park with One of Our Japan and More Tours

 

Ueno Park

Ueno Park is probably the most famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Tokyo. The park is easily accessible, and the trees are old and impressively large, creating a stunning backdrop.

Cherry Trees near Benten Temple at Ueno Park

Some of the first cherry trees here were planted by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third Shogunate during the Edo period. After World War II, local donations helped restore the cherry trees to what you see today.

Cherry Trees Along Ueno Park’s Main Path

The main walking path is canopied by cherry trees and is the main attraction. This place is very popular with locals and tourists, so it gets very crowded, even on weekdays.

Near Benten Temple, there are food stalls with covered seats and tables set up next to Shinobazu pond. It’s a great place to grab some festival food and see the blossoming branches hanging over the water.

Ueno Cherry Tree Path Near Benten Temple

There is also a nice path you can walk down with water and cherry trees on either side.

How to get to Ueno Park

• 2-minute walk from Ueno Station.
• 10-minute walk from Ueno-okachimachi Station
• 5-minute walk from Nezu Station

Yoyogi Park

Yoyogi Park is located in Shibuya, right next to Meiji Jingu Shrine. There are around 600 to 700 cherry trees that offer a diverse and colorful display during the cherry blossom season.

Cherry Blossoms at Yoyogi Park

It’s another one of the most popular spots for cherry blossoms in Tokyo, so it’s packed on weekends. However, on weekdays, it’s actually not that bad.

Even though there are a lot of people, there are plenty of places to see the blossoms. There are also food stalls where you can get some beverages and typical festival foods like Yakisoba and Takoyaki.

How to get to Yoyogi Park

• 3-minute walk from JR Harajuku Station
• 3-minute walk from Yoyogi Koen Station

Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku Gyoen is a beautiful park with wide-open spaces. It’s a fantastic place to either take a relaxing stroll or to find a spot to sit and have a picnic.

Cherry Blossom Trees at Shinjuku Gyoen

Do note that there’s an entrance fee and alcohol consumption is prohibited within the park. So, if you want to enjoy a drink, this might not be the place for you.

There are about 1,100 cherry blossom trees and 65 different types. Each of these varieties bloom at slightly different times, giving you a better chance of seeing some blossoms on your trip to Japan.

Plum Blossom Trees at Shinjuku Gyoen

In 2024, the park started an online reservation system for weekend visits. I’m guessing that will continue in the future. Weekdays are much less crowded, and there’s no need to book online. However, it’s definitely worth the price of admission, in my opinion.

How to Get to Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku Gate

• 5-minute walk from Shinjuku-sanchome Station C1/C5 exit
• 5-minute walk from Shinjuku-sanchome Station Exit E-5
• 5-minute walk from Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station Exit 1
• 10-minute walk from Shinjuku Station South Exit
• 15-minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Station

Okido Gate

• 5-minute walk from Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station Exit 2

Sendagaya Gate

• 5-minute walk from Sendagaya Station
• 5-minute walk from National Stadium Station Exit A5

Meguro River

The main area is from the Meguro River Cherry Blossoms Promenade to the Nakame Park Bridge. This area is the most popular, and has the most trees.

This is a beautiful stroll on both sides of the river, and there are great photo opportunities from the bridges. It’s a great place to capture that iconic shot of a cherry blossom tree hanging right above the river.

Becki in Front of a Cherry Tree Along the River

Note that this place is more of a walking street. A local guide can help you find secret spots, and may even get you into a place to have a drink. There aren’t very many places to sit down, so most people opt for restaurants, bars, or cafés.

However, reservations are made a year or more in advance, so it can be difficult to just pop into a place and get a seat. As a backup, many of the restaurants have stands serving drinks and snacks.

At night, the trees are lit up with spotlights and lanterns that hang from the cherry trees all the way down the path.

Cherry Trees Hanging Over Meguro River

The path of cherry blossoms continues well beyond Nakame Park Bridge. And if you keep going, you’ll find the world’s second largest Starbucks Reserve Roastery.

The building has two balconies with seats and views of cherry blossoms on the Meguro river. Keep in mind that it’s tough to find an open seat even when it’s not Hanami season.

How to Get to Meguro River

Cherry Blossoms Promenade

• 10-minute walk from Meguro Station

Nakame Park Bridge

• 12-minute walk from Naka-meguro Station

Starbucks Reserve

• 10-minute walk from Ikejiri-ōhashi Station

Chidorigafuchi

Chidorigafuchi is located next to the Imperial Palace. It offers beautiful views of cherry blossoms hanging over a moat. The moat originally surrounded the castle of the Tokugawa Shoganate, and dates back to the beginning of the Edo period.

Cherry Trees Hanging Over Moat at Chidorigafuchi

You can enjoy the blossoms right next to the moat, which is already pretty spectacular. Or you can rent a boat and go on the moat to watch the cherry blossoms from the water.

This place gets packed at this time of year. Be ready for crowds and a long wait to get on a boat.

At night, the trees are lit up with spotlights until 10:00 pm, making it a nice walk after dinner.

How to Get to Chidorigafuchi

• 4-minute walk from Kudanshita Station Exit 2
• 10-minute walk from Hanzomon Station Exit 4

Bonus

Sakura-zaka Hill in Shibuya

In Shibuya, just an 8-minute walk away from the famous Shibuya Scramble crosswalk, is Sakura-zaka Hill. For a little over a week, this small road, in one of the busiest places in Tokyo, is covered with a canopy of cherry blossoms.

Sakura-zaka Hill in Shibuya

The corner is decorated with lanterns that are lit up at night, along with spotlights on the beautiful pink blossoms. It makes for some really great pictures!Make sure you see the cherry blossoms when they’re in full bloom with our current, always updated, cherry blossom forecast, and see our tips for enjoying the cherry blossoms like a local.

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